---
product_id: 24903879
title: "Sennheiser HD 800 S Over-the-Ear Audiophile Reference Headphones - Ring Radiator Drivers With Open-Back Earcups, Includes Balanced Cable, 2-Year Warranty (Black)"
brand: "sennheiser"
price: "R315"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "Sennheiser"
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/24903879-sennheiser-hd-800-s-over-the-ear-audiophile-reference-headphones
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# 56mm ring radiator drivers Includes balanced 4.4mm & 1/4" cables Open-back earcups for natural sound Sennheiser HD 800 S Over-the-Ear Audiophile Reference Headphones - Ring Radiator Drivers With Open-Back Earcups, Includes Balanced Cable, 2-Year Warranty (Black)

**Brand:** sennheiser
**Price:** R315
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Hear every nuance, own every moment.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Sennheiser HD 800 S Over-the-Ear Audiophile Reference Headphones - Ring Radiator Drivers With Open-Back Earcups, Includes Balanced Cable, 2-Year Warranty (Black) by sennheiser
- **How much does it cost?** R315 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/24903879-sennheiser-hd-800-s-over-the-ear-audiophile-reference-headphones)

## Best For

- sennheiser enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted sennheiser brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Breathe in the Music:** Open-back design creates an expansive, natural soundstage that immerses you in every note.
- • **Tailored Connectivity:** Dual detachable cables (balanced 4.4mm & single-ended 1/4") ensure seamless compatibility with pro gear.
- • **Comfort Meets Endurance:** Lightweight 330g build with ergonomic over-ear design for marathon listening sessions without fatigue.
- • **Future-Proof Investment:** Backed by a 2-year warranty and crafted with premium materials for lasting performance and style.
- • **Studio-Grade Precision Sound:** 56mm ring radiator drivers deliver unmatched clarity and detail for audiophile-grade listening.

## Overview

The Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones feature massive 56mm ring radiator dynamic drivers paired with an open-back design to deliver an ultra-wide, natural soundstage. Engineered for audiophiles and professionals, they include balanced and single-ended detachable cables for versatile connectivity. Lightweight and ergonomically designed, these headphones offer exceptional comfort for extended use. With a 2-year warranty and premium build quality, the HD 800 S is a top-tier reference headphone system that reveals every detail in your music with stunning clarity.

## Description

Buy Sennheiser HD 800 S Over-the-Ear Audiophile Reference Headphones - Ring Radiator Drivers With Open-Back Earcups, Includes Balanced Cable, 2-Year Warranty (Black): Over-Ear Headphones - desertcart.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

Review: Precision audio instrument - These headphones are precision machines created to enable hearing exactly what is in a recording. They are Zeiss cinema lenses for audio: Smooth, precise, effortless, free of distortion...they make phenomenal recordings/productions shine like you are in the studio listening to master tapes through the board, and they expose any and all defects in a mix/recording (or repro signal chain). Owning them is a real treat. IMO, they greatly benefit from using inline EQ (preferably 10 band or more), because they instantly expose the vast differences between the eq curves used by producers on recordings (not to mention digital quality/sampling/bit rates, mastering compression modes, microphone/room choice...). Since purchasing these, I have been making and saving custom 10 band eq curves via VLC for specific favorite albums to bring out the best in recordings for MY ears which, at 60 years of age, are still excellent but certainly do not have a "flat" response. Some recordings sound great "flat" but most are engineered to compensate for terrible car/home audio systems, or were mangled in the analog to digital mastering process during the early CD era...so these re-EQs can make a MASSIVE difference. The HD 800s headphones are made by the venerable Sennheiser corp, but could easily be a pro-NAGRA product - Swiss/German absolute precision. They are open backed, which I favor b/c they breathe and do not cut the listener off from the ambient environment...VERY comfortable for long listening sessions. I am currently running them via a simple inexpensive chain: Apple Mac playing back a variety of audio formats via the VLC player/EQ, into a Dragonfly Cobalt DAC, into an Apos Duoo TA-66 tube headphone amp...only $500 or so of equipment, but phenomenal quality**. The TA-66 puts out 200mw into 300 Ohms (the impedance of the HD 800s), and with the Mac volume setting at unity, and the TA-66 at 50% (12 o'clock), I am at/beyond my tolerance for loudness (suspect this is producing spl of ~ 95db peaks at my ears). So plenty of power. At this power level there is zero noise, zero clipping/artifacting, unbelievably precise dynamics (the speed with which these headphones can transition from max loudness to absolute silence or visa versa is hard to describe), a massive soundstage, complete transparency of human vocals and all musical instruments (from softest violins, to ridiculously saturated heavy metal guitars/drums such as in Rammstein's Deutschland). Santana's Europa from an old low-rez ripped CD file of the Moonflower album brought tears to my eyes...I could "see" Carlos' fingers moving to every fret/bend, hear every nuance of his pick interacting with the strings, all while the synth strings and drums surrounded him in massive perfectly detailed layers - the mental impression/vision was that I was Carlos looking down at my hands on the guitar and the band was behind, left and right of me -a pretty unique, nearly psychedelic "staging" compared to the thousands of other times I've listened to this recording on vinyl/cd. There is no doubt owning this set of headphones will make one want to upgrade ALL favorite recordings to lossless/remastered 24/96 (minimum) versions as they become available. In conclusion, these are headphones...they DO NOT reproduce the experience of incredible speakers moving huge amounts of air in a large well tuned listening room, but for close listening of audio recordings they are truly wonderful, emotionally engaging, reference instruments in the very top strata of headphone products... There may be "different" and there are certainly more expensive, but to say "better" requires personal/subjective interpretation of extraordinarily marginal diminishing returns. ** For reference, I'm a vintage Marantz tube preamp/amp owner (who has also owned a large list of other top tier tube and solid state signal chain components - Conrad Johnson, HK, Bryston, Crown, Macintosh, Audio Research...) who is used to driving LARGE speakers from the likes of B&W, JBL, Klipsch in large well proportioned listening rooms. As a musician who plays piano, guitars, drums/percussion, synths, etc., and has performed in live environments with orchestras, small ensembles, rock/fusion bands, jazz big bands) I know from experience what real instruments sound/feel like in all sorts of audio environments good/bad/ugly...
Review: Expensive But Quality That Matches The Price - There's a distinct law of diminishing returns when it comes to high-end audio gear. I suppose that can be said for any kind of product but weighing the pros and cons and determining the "value" of a headphone like this is purely up to the beholder since sound is so subjective and people hear things differently. I work in the musical instruments (high-end electric guitars) and music (artist/band management) industry so I'm around high-end gear and people who take sound very seriously all the time. When it comes to sound people can be very opinionated and one cannot prove or dispute that one piece of high-end gear is better or worse than the other at relatively similar price points. And as we get to higher and higher price points, we are sure to find more and more people arguing about the justification of such prices. Some new custom electric guitars can cost $5000 and up. Does that make a custom guitar from company "A" twice as good as a custom guitar from company "B" that's priced at $2500? Of course not. This also applies to amplifiers, speaker cabinets, effects pedals, cables and everything else involved in producing a good sound. Ultimately, all that matters is that the gear you choose works for you. Obviously, this applies to audiophile gear as well. I've had some good headphones from the likes of AKG, Grado and Sennheiser and I've noticed that all manufacturers have their distinctive sonic stamp. For me, the Sennheiser's character seemed to suit me best as I highly value clarity, balance and prefer "brilliance" over "mellow" and "warmth". Again, it's personal taste and I perfectly understand why some people would prefer more bass or mellowness. I, for one, do not like bass to be emphasized at all and despise boomy bass that overwhelms all the other frequency ranges. So I decided that I could afford to splurge on the one "ultimate" (for me, anyway) over-ears open-back headphone that I've always wanted. After going over various options, I settled on the HD800S and I can honestly say that I'm very pleased with what I'm hearing. I use it with Chord Electronics' Hugo and Mojo DAC/headphone amps and they match up perfectly. I only play ALAC, high-res FLAC and DSD files to listen to my favorite music with a heavy emphasis on classical music and jazz. For rock, metal and modern pop, ALAC in my iTunes library is fine but for classical and jazz that have much greater dynamic range I definitely prefer high-res FLAC and DSD. The soundstage of the HD 800S is superb - extremely broad but also with detailed depth that I have not heard from my previous headphones. There is a three-dimensional quality in where the instruments are placed in the stereo spectrum - not only left to right but front to back. It's by far the largest soundstage I've heard from a headphone but it should be noted that high-res FLAC and DSD files along with a superb DAC like the Chord Hugo have a lot to with that as well. To get the most out of a headphone like the HD800S, you do need other critical components to work in conjunction with it. As for the overall sound quality, it is what I expected out of Sennheiser - bright and super clear but not strident, firm and defined lows, rich mids that are beautifully balanced but with a tad bit more emphasis on the high-mids. I can understand why some would consider this kind of "voicing" to be too bright and prefer something more mellower and warmer but, as I said before, everyone hears things differently. I love the clarity and the definition of the HD800S but also the smoothness of the highs. I haven't heard the 800 but I can say the 800S' highs are silky smooth - especially the string sections of an orchestra which, to me, is the benchmark to check during listening tests. The lows are big and firm but play more of a "supporting" role to everything else than being out at the front which is, again, exactly the way I like to hear things. Listening to some techno-electronica kinds of stuff, the bass has more than enough punch with plenty of definition along with a nice smooth balance amongst the bass frequencies. The truly beautiful thing about the HD 800S sound is its smoothness across the entire sonic spectrum without any noticeable peaks and valleys. It's not just a matter of balance but a very musical "sheen" around the edges. The all-critical mids where the ears naturally tune into is rich but super clear with excellent separation between instruments (including voice) across the stereo field. Whether it's Beethoven's 'Eroica' symphony or Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' or The Rolling Stones' 'Let It Bleed', I'm hearing details that I've never heard before in all their sonic glory and every one of those little details sounds sublime. Yes, the HD 800S is certainly an expensive piece of gear but if music and sound quality matter that much to you, it's worth a shot. I certainly didn't expect a $1600 headphone to sound "three times" better than a $500 headphone (and I've had a few in that range). Anyone who expects that doesn't understand the law of diminishing returns when it comes to high-end gear. But in the end, if that last 5~10% in greater clarity, depth and detail can be experienced over the previous headphone and greatly increases your overall enjoyment of the music, then it becomes worth every extra dollar and penny. It's easy to feel a sense of "buyer's remorse" after purchasing a headphone like this. Expectations can be too high. I had very realistic expectations and in which areas I expected to hear improvements. In those areas, the HD 800S actually exceeded all my expectations and sounds even better than I thought it would. And, as expected, the sound keeps improving as I'm only now reaching the 100th hour with it. It's a great audio device - one of the best I've ever owned and heard. The industrial design and the workmanship are about as good as they get but, ultimately, it's the sound and the HD 800S really delivers like none that I had ever heard. Addendum: I believe my HD 800S now has surpassed the 150-hour mark. It really does sound so much better than the first few hours. The bit of stiffness I heard around the edges of the notes is now gone. I can sense more "elasticity" in the way the different frequencies and instruments interact with each other. The highs sound smoother, the lows have more bounce and the mids sound richer with even greater detail. The first 100~120 hours really do make a big difference. It just keeps sounding better and better and that's a mighty good thing.

## Features

- Open back, around ear, reference class dynamic headphone
- 56mm ring radiator transducers are the largest drivers ever used in dynamic headphones
- Innovative absorber technology reduces unwanted frequency response peaks allowing all the music nuances to become audible
- Unique ear cup design directs sound waves to the ear at a slight angle to create an impressively natural and spatial listening experience
- Includes two connecting cables: single ended 1/4 inches And balanced 4. 4 mm cable
- Connectivity technology: Wired

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B00PXLX2TC |
| Additional Features | dj-style |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Audio Driver Size | 56 Millimeters |
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Best Sellers Rank | #66,074 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #1,478 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Brand | Sennheiser |
| Brand Name | Sennheiser |
| Built-In Media | Cable, Cleaning Cloth, Headphones, USB Flash Drive, User Manual |
| Cable Features | Detachable |
| Cable Length | 9.8 Feet |
| Color | Black |
| Compatible Devices | Desktops, Laptops, Music Production Equipment, Smartphones, Tablets |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Control Type | Media Control |
| Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 521 Reviews |
| EU Spare Part Availability Duration | 2 Years |
| Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Earpiece Shape | over-ear |
| Enclosure Material | Metal,Plastic,Microfiber,Stainless Steel,Steel |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Frequency Range | 4 - 51000 Hz |
| Frequency Response | 51000 Hz |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00615104273009 |
| Headphone Folding Features | Over Ear |
| Headphone Jack | 6.35 mm Jack |
| Headphones Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Impedance | 300 Ohms |
| Is Autographed | No |
| Item Type Name | Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System;Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System |
| Item Weight | 330 Grams |
| Manufacturer | Sennheiser |
| Model Name | 960-000733 |
| Model Number | HD 800 S |
| Noise Control | None |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Series Number | 800 |
| Specific Uses For Product | Music |
| Style Name | Headphone |
| UPC | 615104273009 |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Warranty Description | 2 year coverage for labor, 2 year coverage for parts |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Sennheiser
- **Color:** Black
- **Ear Placement:** Over Ear
- **Form Factor:** Over Ear
- **Impedance:** 300 Ohms

## Images

![Sennheiser HD 800 S Over-the-Ear Audiophile Reference Headphones - Ring Radiator Drivers With Open-Back Earcups, Includes Balanced Cable, 2-Year Warranty (Black) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xRloBTYgS.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: If I pair these with a 19.95 Sony Walkman tape player from ebay will that be ironic enough to get me in with the hipsters?**
A: Possibly, but a pair of Square-shaped glasses and a cup of overpriced, burnt coffee would certainly help. Also, you'll need to change your catchphrase to "Bazinga".

**Q: Can iphone 6 plus be able to power this headphones without a problem? Without needing of an Amplifier, I would like it to use in spotify?**
A: Actually, you gentlemen who think that the SQ of the iPhone 6/6+ is sub-par or ''stinks'' might want to take a look at the measurements and tests done by Ken Rockwell where it comes extremely close to the performance of the Benchmark DAC1-HDR.  And I can confirm via my own Blind A/B/X listening tests using Neumann KH 120A Studio Monitors, Beyerdynamic T1 headphones, and Noble Audio Kaiser K10 CIEMs that the SQ of the iPhone 6/6+ is on par or better than several so-called "high-end" DAPs. I do agree that you will want an outboard Headphone Amplifier to eek the best performance from the HD800S/to power them appropriately, but the SQ from the iPhone 6/6+ itself is stellar, especially considering it is not designed as a stand-alone /dedicated DAP.  My .02 FWIWhttp://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/iphone-6-plus.htm#measurementsOnce you are on the page above, Click on the ''Audio Performance'' Link.If my Link above gets deleted or omitted, just Google Search for ''Apple iPhone 6 Plus Review - Ken Rockwell''.

**Q: Hello,can i use this with xvive u4 iem system?**
A: It should work, I don't know how well, since I'm not that familiar with that system, or what your needs are...
It would be easier if you call 920-494-8999 10a-7 central time M-Sa
or contact us at hifiheaven.net
Thanks
Jim

**Q: Best affordable dac&amp combo or seperate (under $600)?**
A: For anyone else looking at these  heres a combo you wont regret
Schitt stack - modi 3+,  Loki mini +,  + Vali 2
The reason for the loki is that these headphones present the higher freq more than the bassier notes you can use the Loki to adjust the lower hertz to fillin the gap.

This is coming from an old timer who used to install competition stereos Equalizers are a must in any serious audio setup to correct the changes in the signal by the equipment its passing through.

Also dont spend $$$ on crazy headphone wires unless your going for true dual 3 pin xlr balanced not worth the extra money for the 4 pin single xlr stuff.
If you do ...dont spend more than 4 8-10  dollars a foot more than that and your getting robbed
electrons dont care weather its copper or silver as long as its high purity and the sodlering is good on connectors. 
The OEM wire should be enough just give it care dont bend pinch it ect.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Precision audio instrument
*by S***É on October 19, 2024*

These headphones are precision machines created to enable hearing exactly what is in a recording. They are Zeiss cinema lenses for audio: Smooth, precise, effortless, free of distortion...they make phenomenal recordings/productions shine like you are in the studio listening to master tapes through the board, and they expose any and all defects in a mix/recording (or repro signal chain). Owning them is a real treat. IMO, they greatly benefit from using inline EQ (preferably 10 band or more), because they instantly expose the vast differences between the eq curves used by producers on recordings (not to mention digital quality/sampling/bit rates, mastering compression modes, microphone/room choice...). Since purchasing these, I have been making and saving custom 10 band eq curves via VLC for specific favorite albums to bring out the best in recordings for MY ears which, at 60 years of age, are still excellent but certainly do not have a "flat" response. Some recordings sound great "flat" but most are engineered to compensate for terrible car/home audio systems, or were mangled in the analog to digital mastering process during the early CD era...so these re-EQs can make a MASSIVE difference. The HD 800s headphones are made by the venerable Sennheiser corp, but could easily be a pro-NAGRA product - Swiss/German absolute precision. They are open backed, which I favor b/c they breathe and do not cut the listener off from the ambient environment...VERY comfortable for long listening sessions. I am currently running them via a simple inexpensive chain: Apple Mac playing back a variety of audio formats via the VLC player/EQ, into a Dragonfly Cobalt DAC, into an Apos Duoo TA-66 tube headphone amp...only $500 or so of equipment, but phenomenal quality**. The TA-66 puts out 200mw into 300 Ohms (the impedance of the HD 800s), and with the Mac volume setting at unity, and the TA-66 at 50% (12 o'clock), I am at/beyond my tolerance for loudness (suspect this is producing spl of ~ 95db peaks at my ears). So plenty of power. At this power level there is zero noise, zero clipping/artifacting, unbelievably precise dynamics (the speed with which these headphones can transition from max loudness to absolute silence or visa versa is hard to describe), a massive soundstage, complete transparency of human vocals and all musical instruments (from softest violins, to ridiculously saturated heavy metal guitars/drums such as in Rammstein's Deutschland). Santana's Europa from an old low-rez ripped CD file of the Moonflower album brought tears to my eyes...I could "see" Carlos' fingers moving to every fret/bend, hear every nuance of his pick interacting with the strings, all while the synth strings and drums surrounded him in massive perfectly detailed layers - the mental impression/vision was that I was Carlos looking down at my hands on the guitar and the band was behind, left and right of me -a pretty unique, nearly psychedelic "staging" compared to the thousands of other times I've listened to this recording on vinyl/cd. There is no doubt owning this set of headphones will make one want to upgrade ALL favorite recordings to lossless/remastered 24/96 (minimum) versions as they become available. In conclusion, these are headphones...they DO NOT reproduce the experience of incredible speakers moving huge amounts of air in a large well tuned listening room, but for close listening of audio recordings they are truly wonderful, emotionally engaging, reference instruments in the very top strata of headphone products... There may be "different" and there are certainly more expensive, but to say "better" requires personal/subjective interpretation of extraordinarily marginal diminishing returns. ** For reference, I'm a vintage Marantz tube preamp/amp owner (who has also owned a large list of other top tier tube and solid state signal chain components - Conrad Johnson, HK, Bryston, Crown, Macintosh, Audio Research...) who is used to driving LARGE speakers from the likes of B&W, JBL, Klipsch in large well proportioned listening rooms. As a musician who plays piano, guitars, drums/percussion, synths, etc., and has performed in live environments with orchestras, small ensembles, rock/fusion bands, jazz big bands) I know from experience what real instruments sound/feel like in all sorts of audio environments good/bad/ugly...

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Expensive But Quality That Matches The Price
*by V***N on September 17, 2016*

There's a distinct law of diminishing returns when it comes to high-end audio gear. I suppose that can be said for any kind of product but weighing the pros and cons and determining the "value" of a headphone like this is purely up to the beholder since sound is so subjective and people hear things differently. I work in the musical instruments (high-end electric guitars) and music (artist/band management) industry so I'm around high-end gear and people who take sound very seriously all the time. When it comes to sound people can be very opinionated and one cannot prove or dispute that one piece of high-end gear is better or worse than the other at relatively similar price points. And as we get to higher and higher price points, we are sure to find more and more people arguing about the justification of such prices. Some new custom electric guitars can cost $5000 and up. Does that make a custom guitar from company "A" twice as good as a custom guitar from company "B" that's priced at $2500? Of course not. This also applies to amplifiers, speaker cabinets, effects pedals, cables and everything else involved in producing a good sound. Ultimately, all that matters is that the gear you choose works for you. Obviously, this applies to audiophile gear as well. I've had some good headphones from the likes of AKG, Grado and Sennheiser and I've noticed that all manufacturers have their distinctive sonic stamp. For me, the Sennheiser's character seemed to suit me best as I highly value clarity, balance and prefer "brilliance" over "mellow" and "warmth". Again, it's personal taste and I perfectly understand why some people would prefer more bass or mellowness. I, for one, do not like bass to be emphasized at all and despise boomy bass that overwhelms all the other frequency ranges. So I decided that I could afford to splurge on the one "ultimate" (for me, anyway) over-ears open-back headphone that I've always wanted. After going over various options, I settled on the HD800S and I can honestly say that I'm very pleased with what I'm hearing. I use it with Chord Electronics' Hugo and Mojo DAC/headphone amps and they match up perfectly. I only play ALAC, high-res FLAC and DSD files to listen to my favorite music with a heavy emphasis on classical music and jazz. For rock, metal and modern pop, ALAC in my iTunes library is fine but for classical and jazz that have much greater dynamic range I definitely prefer high-res FLAC and DSD. The soundstage of the HD 800S is superb - extremely broad but also with detailed depth that I have not heard from my previous headphones. There is a three-dimensional quality in where the instruments are placed in the stereo spectrum - not only left to right but front to back. It's by far the largest soundstage I've heard from a headphone but it should be noted that high-res FLAC and DSD files along with a superb DAC like the Chord Hugo have a lot to with that as well. To get the most out of a headphone like the HD800S, you do need other critical components to work in conjunction with it. As for the overall sound quality, it is what I expected out of Sennheiser - bright and super clear but not strident, firm and defined lows, rich mids that are beautifully balanced but with a tad bit more emphasis on the high-mids. I can understand why some would consider this kind of "voicing" to be too bright and prefer something more mellower and warmer but, as I said before, everyone hears things differently. I love the clarity and the definition of the HD800S but also the smoothness of the highs. I haven't heard the 800 but I can say the 800S' highs are silky smooth - especially the string sections of an orchestra which, to me, is the benchmark to check during listening tests. The lows are big and firm but play more of a "supporting" role to everything else than being out at the front which is, again, exactly the way I like to hear things. Listening to some techno-electronica kinds of stuff, the bass has more than enough punch with plenty of definition along with a nice smooth balance amongst the bass frequencies. The truly beautiful thing about the HD 800S sound is its smoothness across the entire sonic spectrum without any noticeable peaks and valleys. It's not just a matter of balance but a very musical "sheen" around the edges. The all-critical mids where the ears naturally tune into is rich but super clear with excellent separation between instruments (including voice) across the stereo field. Whether it's Beethoven's 'Eroica' symphony or Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' or The Rolling Stones' 'Let It Bleed', I'm hearing details that I've never heard before in all their sonic glory and every one of those little details sounds sublime. Yes, the HD 800S is certainly an expensive piece of gear but if music and sound quality matter that much to you, it's worth a shot. I certainly didn't expect a $1600 headphone to sound "three times" better than a $500 headphone (and I've had a few in that range). Anyone who expects that doesn't understand the law of diminishing returns when it comes to high-end gear. But in the end, if that last 5~10% in greater clarity, depth and detail can be experienced over the previous headphone and greatly increases your overall enjoyment of the music, then it becomes worth every extra dollar and penny. It's easy to feel a sense of "buyer's remorse" after purchasing a headphone like this. Expectations can be too high. I had very realistic expectations and in which areas I expected to hear improvements. In those areas, the HD 800S actually exceeded all my expectations and sounds even better than I thought it would. And, as expected, the sound keeps improving as I'm only now reaching the 100th hour with it. It's a great audio device - one of the best I've ever owned and heard. The industrial design and the workmanship are about as good as they get but, ultimately, it's the sound and the HD 800S really delivers like none that I had ever heard. Addendum: I believe my HD 800S now has surpassed the 150-hour mark. It really does sound so much better than the first few hours. The bit of stiffness I heard around the edges of the notes is now gone. I can sense more "elasticity" in the way the different frequencies and instruments interact with each other. The highs sound smoother, the lows have more bounce and the mids sound richer with even greater detail. The first 100~120 hours really do make a big difference. It just keeps sounding better and better and that's a mighty good thing.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ For Those Who Own HD650
*by T***P on April 6, 2024*

I own Senn HD650 and the Audeze MX-4 together with some other common headphones in the mixing and mastering world of music. The MX-4 got bored after a while to me, while the HD650 is unbeatable. (If you have read to this point, you would easily know that I’m a musician, not a gamer, and I use these headphones for mixing and mastering music. Thus, I have NO idea how these cans work with XBox or Playstation. My review is for those who work with music. My apology, gamers). So, should I buy the HD800s? Is it a good upgrade from the HD650? Is it worth the price tag? Short answer: I fell in love with the HD800s right away. - Build quality: It’s German quality, so you can rest assure it will last long with you. These are also huge cans. They almost cover all of the sides of my face. - Design: It’s open-back, so your ears do not get hot after wearing these for some time. - Sound: My point of comparison is the HD650. These cans sound brighter, crispier, and clearer than the HD650 in the mid frequencies, but they do not make my ears fatigue. Since the HD650 sounds warmer, I have the feeling that the HD800s sounds thinner. But that’s my feeling. Different ears may feel different. The only cons that I have against the HD800s is the lack of bass. If you like bass, these cans may not make you happy. Now, what I said above is filtered by the EQ correction that I applied to the headphones. In the photos that I attached with this review, you’ll see the EQ curve for frequencies corrections of the HD800s. With this EQ curve, the headphones become completely flat and very suitable for mixing and mastering. So, people without this EQ correction will hear differently from these headphones. I found this EQ correction online and it is called Oratory 1990 EQ Correction. RME Audio uses these EQ curves to correct headphones that connect to their ADI-2 audio converters. I use Fabfilter Pro Q3 for this correction to the headphones I use for mixing and mastering and it works well for my purpose. I don’t have RME ADI-2 converter, though. In conclusion, is it a good upgrade? It is absolutely yes. Is it worth the money? Well, I would not pay the original price for these headphones. I got them during the sales, so it’s worth it. Will I buy it again? Yes I surely will. Should you buy it? If you mix and master using headphones, you should buy them. You won’t regret. That’s all I have to say. Thanks for reading my review.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Sennheiser HD 800 S Over-the-Ear Audiophile Reference Headphones - Ring Radiator Drivers With Open-Back Earcups, Includes Balanced Cable, 2-Year Warranty (Black)
- Sennheiser Genuine Adapter Cable Female 1/4" 6.3mm to Male 1/8" 3.5mm Plug for Headphones
- ANDTOBO 1/4'' to 3.5 mm Stereo Pure Copper Headphone Adapter, 3.5 mm(1/8'') Plug Male to 6.35 mm (1/4'') Jack Female Stereo Adapter for Headphone, Amp Adapter, Black 2-Pack

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*